Means for preventing smudging by interleaved printing ribbons



P 1937- G. M. SACERD-OTE MEANS FOR PREVENTING SMUDGING BY INTERLIEAVED PRINTING masons Filed .3 I 4-Shets-Sheelt 1 Sebt- 1937. e. M. s cERDbl-E MEANS FOR PREVENTING SMUDGING BY INTEHLEAVED G BBONSE *INVENTQR Sept. 14, 1937. G. M. SACERDOTE MEANS FOR PREVENTING SMUDGING BY INTERLEAVED PRiNTING RIBBONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 10, 1934 Fig. 3 Fig. 9

INVENTOR Sept. 14, 1937. G. M. SACERDOTE MEANS FOR PREVENTING SMUDGING BY INTERLEAVED PRINTING RIBBONS Filed Aug. 10, 1954 4 she ts-sheet INVENTOR Patented Sept. 14, 1937 1 MEANS FOR PREVENTING 'S MUpG ING new INTERLEAVED PRINTING mucous i,

Application Aug st 10, 1934;;sria lNog'isam i This invention relates to I copy producing, and manifolding devices for typewritersandlike ma chines where a printingaribbon; or ribbons, are" employed in. lieu of carbon sheets for producing 5 copies. More particularly the invention refers to improvements for preventing smudging of the paper sheets by the ribbon; or ribbons; due to' rubbing of their contacting surfaces during" advancing movements of either the ribbon, or rib- 1 0 bons, or-the paper sheets, or both.

:In manifolding attachments for typewritersff such as described for instance in twoother patent applications filed by me,- entitled Ribbon advancing mechanism filedJuly. 6, l934,v-Seria1 No. 16 734,016 and Reversible V filed July 6, 1934, Serial No. 734,015, copending herewith, at least an auxiliary ribbon is employed besides the ribbon forming part of the standard equipment of a. typewritingmachine, saidauxilb platen for the entire length thereof in correspondence of theprinting line. Said auxiliary I ribbon is usually inserted 1 between twofcopy sheets, the front sheetbeing transparent so that l 25 when the keys are struck two copies are thereby simultaneously produced.

Means must be provided for advancing the U h guiding' means F in still 1 another position;

auxiliary ribbon at a rate sufficient to prevent its becoming dry, since it is well known that for'a ribbon to retain its effectiveness it must be ali lowedto regenerate by contact'with the portion thereof which waspreviously wound upona reel. The feed of the auxiliary ribbon may 'be step bon a material distance each time. the carriage is returned-to the starting'point. In either case,

Ihave found thatthe ribbon feed must. not fall ,a below a certain minimum .if the v,clarity of the I v difi'erent constructionof -the means for prevent 40 7 Fig. 10 is a" fragmentary view in perspective of V printing is to be retained for the entire length of the line. This advancing movement'of the.- ribbon, .which, asstated, is usually interleaved between two sheets, causes the; ribbon to-rub h h r 3 :Fig. 11 is a'-de tail horizontal section through";

line-|l+ll"of"Fig:L- 10; y :12 l is a fragmentary view in perspective of 1 the 'arrangement shown in Fig.9;

1; i; Fig 13 is a detail horizontalsectionf through against the surfaces of the. sheets and this frequently results in the copies being smudged and rendered partly or totally unfit for use.

This drawback has'been found to be serious enough to materially interfere withthe adoption of ribbon-equipped manifolding devicesw 'Asa that smudging occurs mostly along -theedges of V the sheets, the central part thereof being generally free from it. v

- The primary object of this invention accordribbon feed mechanism ment embodyingmyinvention;

ary ribbon being caused to run in front of: the-* I I an enlarged scale:

' that shown'in Fig. "2;'

result of numerous experiments I have found printing by theauxiliaryfribbbnp g Figi 15.isa.detailviewti n perspective '1 the ingly is'to provide in a device of the character a specifiedQn'o'vel and improved means for prevent- 1' ingsmudging of copy sheets by 'aprinting rib- -bon*interlea.ved therebetween:

- Another object is "tofprovide, ektremely simple i.

and 'efi'ective'means' for-'protectingthe edges of 5 copy sheets from contact with 'a printing rib- 1 i bon interleaved -therebetween;-said means being i' such as "not to interfere with the advancing move:

ment of,the-ribbonitself; a Other objects and advantages of the-present 10 invention will more fully-alibar 'as the descrip 1 ition proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in; y

-Fig.-' 3 is a detail-horizontal section' 'thr0l1gh line 3-3 ofFig; 2 1

Flg.1i is a detail cross section showing the rib-' bon'guiding means-in-Fa position different from '25 Fig. 5fis" a"-siniilar view-showing said ribbon- I -dis arfragmentary front view in elevation,

= in an enlarged scale, illustrating the ribbon guiding means. at one side'of 'the device, equipped v i with means for preventing smudging vof Ith c'opyf sheetsi- .by step, following the striking of each key, but 3 is more generally eifected by advancing'the rib- 7 is a detailcross section through final-"1"" I cf'Fig. 6; showing the printing ribbonin'on'eof its'printingp 'sitionss the vdevice showniin-Figfif line |3l3 o"f FI'ig..-'12; U a Fig; 1415 a detail, front'fview in elevation,- trating theuse of astrap for preventin I means, for attaching saidfstrap 'in -po'sitlon Fig. 161s a detailview' in perspective-showing 7,

Fig. or Fig. 12; and

Fig. 17 is a detail view in perspective illustrating another modified construction of smudge preventing means, also embodying my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, 10 and'll, 20 designates the frame of an Underwood typewriter, on

which is mounteda carriage 2|, carrying the platen 22. On said carriage is mounted a manifolding attachment'frame'fl, secured onto the carrlage'at each end, thereof by meansof screws 24.. Said attachment frame is formed with two side uprights, 23, 24, and ashait 21 runs across said uprights and carries at each end one ofthe auxiliary ribbon reels 23, 23. f

A clutch mechanism (not shown), such as-described for instance in my other two patent'applications above referred to, is provided, whereby one or the other reel may -beoperativelyconnected to said shaft so as to function asa takeup reel for the ribbon 34, while the other func-gv tions as a paying reel. ,Theyshaft isjrotatedw always in the same. irection. by some -:suitable I driving mechanism, operativeduring the return movement of the carriage. A

, For instance, thedriving mechanism may inelude a worm wheel mounted on the shaft, a

worm 3 2 mounted on a vertical shaft", and a drum34, also mounted onsaid-shaftactuated by g a tape attached at one end to the typewriter frame; -a unidirectionally operative clutch device (not shown) being interposed, between drum 34 1 and shaft 33, causing said drum tordrive said shaft when the typewriter carriageis moved to the line starting position. l

The driving mechanism also has been fully described in my other two patent applications above referred to, and liketheribbon feed mechanism isshown and, described here only by way of example inorder to assist in better understanding the invention. It will be understood; however, that any suitable driving andribbonfeeding mechanisms-can be used, these mechanisms not forming a part of the present invention.-

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the auxiliaryribbon 30 runs from one of the reelsJl, over; an idler I roller 36 at the front, thendownwardly to the guide member 31, having-a 45?:defiecting slot 33, then horizontally alongthe platen in correspondenceof the writingline to anotherdefiecting slot 33, provided in a guide' member4li at the other end, then upwardly to another guiding roller4i, andreel 29. -It is thusseen that by virtueof this arrangement the take-up reel will pull the auxiliary ribbon along the writing line each. time the ribbon feed .is operative, the other reel paying the ribbon inaccordancewith the angular movement a of the take-up reel.

In the arrangement a ribbon guiding membersjl, form part ofan articulated ribbon guiding :structure, which makes itpossible to easily move the ribbon in and out .of. its operative position in order to facilitate its insertion between and removal from the copy sheets. .Said ribbon ,guide members are fixed on a common shaft 42,

which is rotatably mounted-through a tubular member 43, extending between and rigidly connecting two arms to each other,,such"as shown at 44, in Fig. 2,.said arms being pivotally'mounted at 45 onto the frame uprights 25, 24.

. The frame consisting ofthe two arms '44 and I -tubular-connection43, and the' fram'e consisting of shaft 42 andtwo ribbon guide members 31,40, together form-aqknee jointrstructure, whiclrpermitss winging movement of guide members '31,

I 2,092,?v said strap. applied to the arrangement of either 40, together with shaft 42 about the axis of said shaft 42. The frame formed by ribbon guide members 31, 40 and shaft 42 may be operated by means offingers, suchas 46, forwardly extending from each of member 31, 40, whereas the frame formed by the two arms and tubular connection 43 may be operated by means of an extension 41 integral with one of said arms.

Said extension is so shaped thatby applying the thumb thereagainst, and-pressingthe first finger againstthe spring pressed lever 43;"pivoted at 49 to the lower extension of arm 44 a tooth 50, carried by said lever 43, can be disengaged from a notch ii, in order to make it possible to swing the frame formed by-said two arms 44 and tubular connection 43' from the normal operative position, shown in Fig.2, to the position shown in Figs; 4 and 5, where tooth 50 can engage another notch 52.

Each arm 44 is preferably formed integral with "asegmental portion 53, concentric with tubular connection 43, saldtsegmnts functioning as friction shoes, adapted .to retainguide members 31, 40-, at anyangular position withrespect to arms -44. To this. end, said guide members *areeach provided with a-s'pring contact member 54, better shown in Fig. 3, pressing against the surface of corresponding friction shoe 53, so that the frame formed -by*guide members 31,540, and-shaft 42,

maybe set atits lowermost position, shown in' Fig. 2, or at any other angular position along frictionshoes 53, as shown for instance in Fig. 5.

l Thesnotches Ii, 52, are preferablyprovided in a segment 55, which is capableo'fa limited rocking motionabout pivot 45, and which may be set --at two or threediiferent angular positions close to'one another, as defined by notches 56, which maybe engaged by aspring actuated pin 51, controlled byaknob 53. f

The purpose of notches 56 lsto set segment 55,

at two or threeiangular positions, so as to cause the upper, lower, or middle portion of the auxiliary ribbon to remain opposite the writing line on -the platen. This isobviously done in order to .fully utilizethe width of the ribbon for writing purposes- As before stated, I have found that in order to produce uniformly good copies, it isnece'ssary to advance the auxiliary ribbon ;a substantial length as each new line is started, in order to .-always present to the typing action a section of ribbon which has not had a chance to dry up while traveling from one end of 'the platen to the 'other.- On the other hand, the relatively extended movement of the ribbon thus produced means aprolonged rubbing contact of the ribbonwith the copy sheets, andconsequent smudging of the sheets, a highly objectionable occurrence.

, I have noticed that the heaviest smudging oc- :curs at the edge portions-of the copy sheets, that 91s, in correspondence o'f theportions of the ribbon =whichare closest to its points of support and are,

therefore possessed or greater stiffness than at the middle portion thereof: In-other words, the

contact, and consequent friction, between the ribbon' and the copy-sheets appear to be more in- I= have'iound that bylproviding suitable means for protecting theedgeportions of the-sheets timate at the'edgesthan-at the middle portion I of the sheets.

against direct contact with" the ribbon, smudg ingwcan be effectivelyeliminated. I have also found that by preventing direct contact between the lower edge of theribbon and the copysheet inserted between said ribbon and the platen, the

. tendency of the ribbon to follow the platen when overcome.

In thearrangement shown in-Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8,

10.and 11, I illustrate an embodiment of my invention in which a very thin stripof metalJQ, is provided, connecting the rear surfaces of ribbon guide members 31, 40, said. strip extending in front of theplaten and having its upper edge slightly overlapping. the lower edge of the ribbon lli,so as to leave the useful surface ofthe ribbon practically unimpaired. Thus in Fig. 7 it is seen that while the ribbon guide membersand the ribbon itself are set at the highest operative position, where the lower portion of the ribbon remains in front of the writing line, strip 58 is still below the writing line; while in Fig. 8, where the ribbon has been lowered so that its central portion remains in front of the writing line, strip 59 occupies a still .lower position.

The strip 59 constitutes an efiective protection against smudging for the copy sheet" at the rear. An equally effective protection for the transparent sheet 8| at the front is obtained by providing the ribbon guide members 31, III, with shields 62, 63, inwardly extending from the front surfaces thereof over the 'endportions of the horizontal tractof theribbon 30, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Said shields are made of very thin, preferably springy laminated material, for instance, sheet steel, and are preferably curved outwardly so as to be bulging in a transverse direction, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in order to more effectively separate the edges of the front copy sheet from the underlying ribbon. At the same time, being made, as stated, of very thin metal, said shields will easily yield to whatever pressure will be exerted by the paper thereagainst and will not interfere with the printing action of the type when the carriage is at either one of its end positions. The relation between the sheets, the ribbon, strip 59 and the shields is, of course, shown in Fig. 8 in exaggerated measure in order to assist in a proper understanding of the invention.

If desired, the same type of shield as used for the front of the ribbon can also beused at the rear, in place of the longitudinally extending strip 59. Figs. 9, 12, 13, where it is seen that the marginal portion of the front copy sheet is protected from direct contact with the ribbon 30' by a shield 62', while the marginal portion of the rear copy sheet 60 is protected from direct contact with the ribbon by another similar shield 62''.

Conversely, it is also possible to substitute a longitudinal strip similar to strip 59 in place of the front shields I2, I, if desired, sucha construction being shown in Fig. 17, where the rear strip is designated by the numeral 59' and the front strip by numeral 59".

In, the various figures the ribbon guide members 3'1, are shown formed with an outwardly extending ear portion 64, 65; formed with a notch 66. This construction has the purpose of providing means for inserting a protecting strap 61 in front of the ribbon Iii, as clearly shown in Figs. 14, 16; said strap being providedat one end with an elastic portion 68, and having each end equipped with a clip, such as shown at 69, in Figs. 14, 15, said clip having a hook extension 10, adapted to engage the corresponding notch 86.

The p rpose of said strap, which is preferably Such a construction is illustrated in made of 'thin'non-absorbenthiaterial, such as waxed tape, for'instanc'e, is tQ'Dl'BVdIlfl the copy I ribbon from'printing on the rear surface offthe sheet at the front thereof. This is necessary? when only one copy having to be produced besides-the 'original, the copy sheet shown. at. II, in Fig.'-16, islplaced between the copy .ribbon'and 1' the platen, and'the original sheet 1211s placedy directly in' front of theribbon. Qn'jithe other, hand,- attimes it is advantageous ito-havethe 0 printing also appearpn'the rear surface of the original sheet: for instanceyit isfdesirable to use such a'method of producing 'originalsfin writing checks, in'order to" obtain effective protection,

against the possibility of alterationsgand Tinjsuch cases, the use of the strap 61 will 'thereforebe omitted.

The strap itself and themeans for applyingit to the copy producingattachment form the sub-- Ject of a separatev patent application, entitled Printing ribbon coveringdevice'flled August 10,,

1934, Serial No. 739,248, copending herewith, and, i; therefore, amore detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary. It is, of course, obvious that, if .desiredythe use of protective strap": can also be omitted when only one copy, is tobe' produced besides the original by using a copy rib bon adapted to print on one side only, but such a type of ribbon is likely to dry out rather quickly,- due to the lack of contactbetween its ink impregnated layers when wound upon the reels.

From the foregoing it is thus seen that I provide very simple and effective means whereby smudging of the copy sheets can be eliminated and the usefulness of a ribbon manifoldingde-' vice very considerably increased. My inventive idea may be applied in ways different from those shown and the drawings, therefore, should be I understood as beingintended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

I accordingly reserve the right to carry my in; vention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the d I appended claims.

I claim:

7 '1. In a device of the character described com prising a platen the combination, with a ribbon extending along said platen adapted to'be interleaved. between two sheets, and end suppo ts tending from said supports, preventing direct contact between'the marginal portions at least.

therefor, of. means attached to and inwardly exof one of said sheets, and said ribbon, the major portion of the means,.intervening between said supports, being left exposed'for type impressions alongthe line of type impact, and means for ribbon longitudinally of said platen.

2. In a device of the character described com prisinga platen the combination, with a ribbon extending along said platen adapted to be inter leaved between two sheets, and end supports therefor, of means attached to and inwardly exadvancing said surface of said ribbon facing said tending from saidsupports, both in front and at the rear of said ribbon,,preventing direct conmajor portion of the surfaceof said ribbon intervening between said supports, along the line of type impact on said platen. 1

3. In a device of the character described com- tact between the marginal portions at'least of I said sheets, and said ribbon, while clearing the 4 supports, at the rear of said ribbon, one of the edges, of said strip overlapping a/relatively narrow edge portion ,of said ribbon, andashield member attached to, and-inwardly extending g 5 from each support along the. corresponding front end portions of said ribbon,-;pretientingydirect contact between said ribbon ,and the marginal fportionsfof the sheetin front "thereof, the portionof bothfthe front and rear surfaces of said "ribbon, intervening bet een said shield members along thejline of type mpact on said, platen, be-

1 ing left exposed for simultaneoustype impression onfsaid two sheets.

4. In a device of the character described com- I prising a platen the combination, witha ribbon said two sheets. Y mending along ai platen d p edto be inter-.- 1 3.

leaved between two sheets, and'end Supports therefor, of a thlnstrip extending between said supports, at the rear of said ribbon, the upper edge of said strip overlapping a relatively narrow lower edge portion of said ribbon, and a shield.

member attached *to, and inwardly extending from each support along the corresponding front end portions 'of said-ribbon; preventing direct contact between'said ribbon andthe marginal portionsof the sheet in'front thereof, the portion of bothvthe front and rear surfaces of said'ribbon, intervening between said shield members along the line of type impact on said platen, being left exposed for simultaneous type impression on GUIDO M; SAC'ERDOTE. 

